Accuracy of F-18 FDG PET/CT in Preoperative Assessment of Cervical Lymph Nodes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer: Comparison with CT/MRI.
- Author:
Seung Jin CHOI
1
;
Sung Su BYUN
;
Sun Won PARK
;
Young Mo KIM
;
In Young HYUN
Author Information
1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inha Univiersity College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea. iyhyun@inha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
head and neck neoplasms;
F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose;
positron emission tomography;
lymph nodes;
neck;
neoplasm metastasis
- MeSH:
Classification;
Electrons;
Head and Neck Neoplasms;
Head*;
Humans;
Lymph Nodes*;
Neck*;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Neoplasms, Squamous Cell*;
Positron-Emission Tomography;
Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography*;
Retrospective Studies;
Ribs;
Sensitivity and Specificity
- From:Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
2006;40(6):309-315
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Accurate evaluation of cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis of head and neck squamous cell cancer (SCC) is important to treatment planning. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for the detection of cervical LN metastasis of head and neck SCC and performed a retrospective comparison with CT/MRI findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients with pathologically proven head and neck SCC underwent F-18 FDG PET/CT and CT/MRI within 4 week before surgery. We recorded lymph node metastases according to the neck level system of imaging-based nodal classification. F-18 FDG PET/CT images were analyzed visually for assessment of regional tracer uptake in LN. We analyzed the differences in sensitivity and specificity between F-18 FDG PET/CT and CT/MRI using the Chi-square test. RESULTS: Among the 17 patients, a total of 123 LN levels were dissected, 29 of which showed metastatic involvement. The sensitivity and specificity of F-18 FDG PET/CT for detecting cervical LN metastasis on a level-by-level basis were 69% (20/29) and 99% (93/94). The sensitivity and specificity of CT/MRI were 62% (18/29) and 96% (90/94). There was no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between F-18 FDG PET/CT and CT/MRI. Interestingly, F-18 FDG PET/CT detected double primary tumor (hepatocellular carcinoma) and rib metastasis, respectively. CONCLUSION: There was not statistically significant difference of diagnostic accuracy between F-18 FDG PET/CT and CT/MRI for the detection of cervical LN metastasis of head and neck SCC. The low sensitivity of F-18 FDG PET/CT was due to limited resolution for small metastatic deposits.
